Car-coupling



(No Model.) J.2 sheets-sheet 1.

O. M. BRIMINGHAM.

.GAR GOUPLING.

No. 467,365. Patent d Jan. 19, 1892.

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' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheet 2.

O. M. BRMINGI-IAM.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 467,365. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

A TTOHNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER M. BRIMINGHAM, OF VICTORIA, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,365, dated January 19, 1892.

Application filed September 10,1891. Serial No. 405,263. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER M. BRIMING- HAM, of Victoria,in the county of Victoria and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved coupler, the object of the invention being to provide an improved means for elevating, holding, and releasing the coupling-pin, and also to provide a vertically-adjustable drawhead, which can be readily adjusted either during coupling or before or after.

lVith these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction 0f the various parts and their novel combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved coupler. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the coupling-pin and guide. Y

In carrying out my invention I employ a draw-bar 10, carrying adraw-head 1G, and upon the said draw-head is secured a guidingblock 11, said block having depending members 11, which straddle the draw-head and project a short distance below the bottom of the same. The sides of the block 11 are provided with vertical grooves 11b, and at the center of said block is produced the vertical passage or bore 11C, adapted to receive the coupling-pin 12, which Works in the link-cavity, as usual. The coupling-pin is provided with a longitudinal tongue or blade 12n near its lower end, said tongue working in a groove or slot produced in the pin-passage 11C, said slot or groove extending a definite distance up into the guiding-block, whereby the upward movement of the pin is limited. A coiled spring 12b is arranged upon the pin above the tongue 12 and below the top of the block, the tendency of the spring being to normally hold the pin within the link-cavity. The upper end of the pin projects above'the block and is connected to a vertically-movable frame 13, which straddles the block 11 and works in the grooves 11b. An operating rock-shaft 14 is journaled in the lower end of the pendent members 11a of theblock 11 and extends outwardly to the side of the car, and

upon said shaft are mounted the eccentric lifting arm or arms 14n, preferably one upon each side of the draw-head, said armsbeing adapted to engage bearing-blocks 14h, attached to the lower ends of the vertically-movable frame, the arms serving to lift the frame upward in the grooves of the guiding-block. The lower faces of the bearing-blocks are curved to aid the armsin theirlifting operations. An operating-wheel let is mounted upon the outer end of the rock-shaft, whereby the operator may turn the shaft from the side ofthe car, thus elevating the pin to uncouple oli-prepare the device for effecting a coupling.

To hold the frame, and hence the pin, in an elevated position I employ a spring-actuated locking-bolt 15. This bolt 15 is arranged in parallel relation with the rock-shaft, and is connected thereto by means of a guiding-arm 15, mounted upon said shaft, the bolt sliding freely therein, the inner end of said bolt Working through 'the lifting-arms, and is adapted to engage an aperture 15b, produced in the side of the member 11a, and hold the frame in an elevated position. The outer end of the bolt 15 is connected with a collar l5, which slides upon the outer portion of the rock-shaft, and connected to this collar is the hand rod or rods which are passed through the operating-wheel and provided with a suitable hand-grip. A coiled spring 15d is arranged upon the rock-shaft between the sliding'collar and the operating-wheel to throw the locking-bolt inwardly into engagement withthe aperture in the member 11% A shoulder 15e is produced upon the rockshaft between the guide-arm and sliding collar, and a similar shoulder 151 is arranged upon the locking-bolt 15, said shoulders limiting the in and out movements of the handrod and locking-bolt. The hand rod or rods may be connected with the sliding-collar in any suitable manner.

A vertically-movable rock-bar 1G is secured upon the end of the car near the top of same, and a chain 1(3L connects the said bar and the vertically-movable frame 13. A spring locking-pawl 16b is pivoted upon the top of car and is adapted to engage the teeth of the rock-bar and hold it in any desired position. By means of the rook-bar and pawl the pin may be elevated from the top of the car and held in such position.

In operation the pin is normally held down IOO Azo

by means of the coiled spring, and in order to elevate the same the operating-wheel is given a forward turn, which rocks the shaft, turns the lifting-arms which engage the bearing-blocks and slide the frame upward, carrying with it the pin, until the locking-bolt, which moves with the rocleshaft and liftingarins, engages the aperture in the side of the guiding-block, thereby holding the frame and pin in an elevated position. When it is desired to release the pin, the hand-rod is pulled out, thereby operating the sliding collar and withdrawing the locking-bolt from the aperture, and the spring uponthe pin throws it down and thus effects a coupling.

The draw-bar is arranged in a guiding box or case 17, which is attached to the bottom of the car, said box or case being coinposed of two longitudinal sections cut out sufficiently to receive the draw-bar. Elon gated apertures 17 are produced 'in the sides ot' the box near its rear end, said apertures being adapted to receive a pivotal bolt 17h, passed transversely through the rear end of draw-- bar, the said bolt being journaled in springactuated movable j ou rnal-boxes 17C, arranged upon the exterior of the box or case opposite the elongated openings, said boxes permitting alimited movement of the draw-bar when the cars bump together, thereby acting as a buffer. The chamber in the casing in which the draw-bar rests is made tapering, as shown, being broader at its forward end, the lower forward vside being opened for a purpose hereinafter explained. A spring 18 is arranged beneath the box or casing and normally holds the draw-bar up against the upper face of the chamber. The sides of the chamber near their forward ends are recessed, as at 19, saidrecesses being adapted to receive the lateral projections 19, formed upon the sides of the draw-bar. A forwardly-inclined longitudinal recess 20 isvproduced in the upper face of the draw-bar, and in said recess is arranged a wedge-shaped block 21, its broad end forward, the upper face of said block being provided with the rack-teeth 21, which are engaged by a pinion 22, mounted upon a shaft 2, passed transversely through the guiding box or case, andprovided at its outer end with a hand-wheel 22h. The block 21 is adapted to be moved backward and forward iii the inclined recess by means of the pinion, thereby lowering the draw bar and head as it is moved rearward or allowingit to be elevated by the spring beneath the drawbar as it is moved forward. The opening in the bottom of case permits the spring to bear upon the draw-bar and also permits the drawbar to be pressed downward. By this means the draw-head can be adjusted, as desired, either during coupling or before or aft-er. It. is preferred to have the block slide upon a plate 23, held Within the recess by means of a pin 23a, as clearly shown. It will of course be understood that the rock-shaft may extend entirely across the end of car and also the pinion-shaft, whereby the pin and draw-head can be operated from either side of the car.

I'Iaving'thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, of a guiding-block attached thereto, a `vertically-movable sliding frame working thereon, and the pin connected with t-he frame and havingaguiding-tongue working in the guiding -bl0ck, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combinationawith a draw-head, of the guiding-block,the sliding frame, the rock-shaft, the lifting-arms, and the pin connected with'the sliding frameand working in the guiding-block, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-head, of the sliding frame and pin, the rock-shaft, and lifting-arms, all arranged substantially as shown and described. t

4t. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-head, of the vertically-sliding frame and pin, the rock-shaft, the lifting-arms, and locking device for holding the said arms in an upright position, substantially as shown and described. t t

5. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, of the vertically-movable pin and frame carrying bearing-blocks, the rockshaft, the eccentric lifting-arms, and the spring-actuated locking-bolt connected with the rock-shaft, substantially as shown and described.

C. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, of a vertically-movable frame and pin, the bearing-blocks, the rock-shaft, lifting-arms, the locking-bolt, guide-arm, slidin gcollar, hand-rod, operating-wheel, and stopcollars, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a guide box or case, of a draw-bar arranged therein, the pivotal bolt, and the movable spring-actuated journal-boxes arranged substantially as shown and described.

S. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a guide-box having a tapering chamber, of a draw-bar pivoted therein, a spring arranged beneath the bar to hold the same elevated, and a sliding block adapted to depress the said draw-bar, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a guide-box, of a draw-bar pivoted therein, a

shaped block sliding on the draw-bar, and intermediate devices for operating the same, substantially as shown and described.

OLIVER M. BRIMINGHAM.

\Vitnesses:

VWILLIAM BILLsrEAN,

EUGENE S. WHEELER.

IIO

.spring for supporting the same, a wedge- 

